# law

> system of rules and guidelines, generally backed by governmental authority

**Wikidata**: [Q7748](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7748)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law

# Law

## Summary
Law is a system of rules and guidelines generally backed by governmental authority that governs relationships between individuals, organizations, and the state. It encompasses multiple branches including constitutional, criminal, civil, and administrative law, forming the foundation of organized society and governance.

## Key Facts
- Law is defined as a system of rules and guidelines generally backed by governmental authority
- The Wikidata identifier for law has a sitelink_count of 248 across multiple language editions
- Law is classified as an instance of Q11862829 (academic discipline) and a subclass of Q1151067 (legal term or legal concept)
- Library of Congress Subject Headings classification: sh85075119
- GND ID: 4048737-4
- Dewey Decimal classifications: 340, 348
- Alternative names include: body of law, legal system, legal regime
- Law is part of broader concepts including society and governance
- Law contains subsidiary concepts including rule, law and literature, and legal system
- Law has related entities including public domain, academic discipline, and numerous legal professionals
- The Wikipedia title for law is simply "Law"
- Law is connected to 248 different Wikipedia language editions
- Law encompasses multiple branches including constitutional law, criminal law, civil law, administrative law, and international law
- Law serves as a parent concept to numerous specialized legal fields including environmental law, corporate law, family law, and tax law

## FAQs
**What is the fundamental definition of law?**
Law is a system of rules and guidelines generally backed by governmental authority that governs behavior and relationships within society. It encompasses the mechanisms by which societies establish standards, maintain order, and resolve disputes.

**What are the main branches of law?**
The main branches include constitutional law (governing the structure of government), criminal law (addressing crimes and punishments), civil law (regulating relationships between individuals), administrative law (governing government agencies), and international law (regulating relations between nations).

**How is law classified academically?**
Law is classified as both an academic discipline and a legal system, with its own body of knowledge, methodologies, and professional practice. It encompasses multiple sub-disciplines including jurisprudence, legal theory, and specialized fields of practice.

**What is the relationship between law and governance?**
Law serves as the foundation for governance by providing the rules and procedures through which authority is exercised and decisions are made. Governance encompasses all processes of governing, whether by government, market, or network, and operates through laws, norms, power, or language.

**How many different legal systems exist globally?**
Law encompasses numerous legal systems including civil law, common law, religious law (such as sharia), and mixed systems, with variations across different countries and jurisdictions including law of Germany, law of the United States, law of India, and law of Australia.

**What types of specialized legal fields exist?**
Specialized fields include environmental law, corporate law, family law, tax law, criminal law, civil law, international law, constitutional law, administrative law, property law, contract law, tort law, and many others addressing specific areas of human activity.

## Why It Matters
Law serves as the fundamental framework that enables organized society to function, providing predictable rules and procedures that govern human behavior and relationships. Without law, there would be no consistent mechanism for resolving disputes, protecting rights, or maintaining social order. Law creates the structure within which governments operate, businesses conduct transactions, and individuals interact with one another. It establishes the boundaries of acceptable behavior while providing remedies when those boundaries are crossed. The legal system ensures accountability by holding individuals, organizations, and governments responsible for their actions. Law also evolves with society, adapting to new challenges such as technology, environmental concerns, and changing social values. The existence of law enables economic development by protecting property rights and enforcing contracts, creating the stability necessary for commerce and investment. Furthermore, law serves as a vehicle for social change, allowing societies to address inequalities and protect vulnerable populations through legislative and judicial processes.

## Notable For
- Serving as the foundational system of rules that enables organized society to function
- Encompassing multiple legal traditions including civil law, common law, and religious law systems
- Providing the framework for governance across all levels from local municipalities to international relations
- Establishing the rule of law as a cornerstone of democratic societies
- Creating predictable mechanisms for dispute resolution and enforcement of rights
- Adapting to address emerging challenges in technology, environment, and social justice
- Supporting economic development through property rights protection and contract enforcement
- Maintaining social order while protecting individual freedoms and rights
- Enabling international cooperation through treaties and international legal frameworks
- Providing career opportunities for millions of legal professionals worldwide

## Body
### Definition and Core Concepts
Law represents a comprehensive system of rules and guidelines that are generally backed by governmental authority. This system encompasses the totality of legal norms that govern behavior within a jurisdiction, creating the framework for social organization and governance. The concept of law includes both the written statutes and regulations as well as unwritten customs and precedents that shape legal interpretation and application.

### Branches and Specializations
The legal system encompasses numerous specialized branches, each addressing different aspects of human activity and social organization. Constitutional law governs the structure and powers of government and the rights of individuals. Criminal law addresses offenses against society and prescribes punishments. Civil law regulates relationships between individuals and organizations. Administrative law governs the operations of government agencies and their interactions with citizens.

International law regulates relations between nations and includes international humanitarian law, which limits the effects of armed conflict. Environmental law promotes protection of the natural environment through specialized legal frameworks. Corporate law governs business entities and commercial transactions. Family law addresses domestic relations and family matters.

### Legal Systems Worldwide
Different countries operate under various legal systems, including civil law systems based on comprehensive legal codes, common law systems built on judicial precedent, and religious law systems derived from religious teachings. The law of Germany follows the civil law tradition, while the law of the United States incorporates elements of both common law and statutory law. The law of India reflects a complex mixture of common law, religious law, and statutory provisions. Islamic law (sharia) serves as a primary legal system in many Muslim-majority countries.

### Academic Discipline
Law functions as a distinct academic discipline with its own methodologies, research traditions, and professional training requirements. Legal education encompasses both theoretical understanding of jurisprudence and practical skills for legal practice. The academic study of law includes areas such as legal theory, comparative law, legal history, and specialized fields of practice.

### Legal Professionals
The practice of law involves numerous specialized professionals including judges who interpret and apply the law, attorneys who represent clients in legal matters, prosecutors who enforce criminal law, and legal scholars who develop legal theory and doctrine. Notable legal professionals mentioned in the source material include Thomas Jefferson, who was both a president and lawyer, and numerous other jurists, judges, and legal scholars who have shaped legal systems throughout history.

### Governance and Society
Law serves as the foundation for governance, providing the rules and procedures through which authority is exercised and decisions are made. The relationship between law and governance is fundamental, as law provides the structure within which governments operate and the mechanisms through which they are held accountable. Legal systems enable democratic governance by establishing procedures for elections, protecting civil liberties, and ensuring equal treatment under the law.

### Historical Development
Legal systems have evolved over millennia, beginning with ancient legal codes such as the Code of Ur-Nammu, one of the oldest surviving law codes, and continuing through various historical periods including ancient Greek law, Roman law, and medieval legal traditions. Modern legal systems incorporate elements from these historical foundations while adapting to contemporary needs and values.

### International Dimensions
International law encompasses treaties, conventions, and customary practices that govern relations between nations. This includes international humanitarian law that seeks to limit the effects of armed conflict, international environmental law that addresses global environmental challenges, and international trade law that facilitates commerce between nations. The development of international legal frameworks reflects the increasing interconnectedness of the modern world.

### Specialized Legal Fields
Contemporary law encompasses numerous specialized fields addressing specific areas of human activity and social concern. Environmental law addresses challenges related to pollution, conservation, and climate change. Technology law deals with issues arising from computing and the internet. Financial law regulates banking, securities, and monetary systems. Labor law governs employer-employee relationships and workplace conditions.

### Legal Procedures and Institutions
The legal system includes various procedures and institutions for the administration of justice, including courts, tribunals, and administrative agencies. These institutions apply legal rules to specific cases and ensure that legal rights are protected and enforced. The structure of legal institutions varies by jurisdiction but typically includes trial courts, appellate courts, and supreme courts.

### Relationship to Other Disciplines
Law intersects with numerous other academic disciplines including political science, economics, sociology, and philosophy. Legal scholars often draw upon these fields to understand the social, economic, and political contexts in which law operates. The interdisciplinary field of law and literature explores connections between legal and literary traditions.

## References

1. Iowa State University Library Vocabularies
2. [Source](https://lingualibre.fr/wiki/Q205726)
3. Nuovo soggettario
4. [Nuovo soggettario](https://thes.bncf.firenze.sbn.it/termine.php?id=5750)
5. [Registros de autoridad de "Materia" de la Biblioteca Nacional de España. Spain open data portal](https://www.bne.es/media/datosgob/catalogo-autoridades/materia/materia-UTF8.zip)
6. YSO-Wikidata mapping project
7. BabelNet
8. [Source](https://islamansiklopedisi.org.tr/kadi)
9. [Source](https://zhuanlan.zhihu.com/p/61318074)
10. [Source](https://www.zhihu.com/search?q=%E5%BC%A0%E6%89%A3%E6%89%A3%E4%BA%8C%E5%AE%A1&type=content#张扣扣案二审&张扣扣案二审维持原判)
11. ASC Leiden Thesaurus dataset of 5 June 2018
12. [Source](https://thenextweb.com/vocabulary/law/)
13. National Library of Israel
14. KBpedia
15. GF WordNet
16. Provenio
17. All Science Journal Classification Codes
18. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)